Porto-Barcelona is a match valid for the second day of the group stage of the Champions League and is played on Wednesday at 21:00: tv, formations, predictions
All is written in Group H, on paper one of the most unbalanced groups in this edition of the Champions League? After what we saw on the first day of the group stage, the answer can only be yes.
Porto and Barcelona made things clear from the outset, beating Shakhtar Donetsk (1-3) and Antwerp (5-0) respectively, the two teams most likely to have to content themselves with battling for third place and thus for the ‘parachute’ called the Europa League. The fight for first instead concerns Lusitanians and Catalans, and the first of the two direct clashes at the Estadio do Dragao risks already being decisive in defining the hierarchies of the grouping. The team coached by Xavi is in the hunt for confirmation after the four-goal victory over Antwerp Belgium, a night in which the star of Joao Felix (two goals) shone. Barça are also doing well in the Spanish La Liga, where they are currently second with only one point less than Real Madrid. Compared to Carlo Ancelotti’s Blancos, the blaugrana are still undefeated, but for the moment they are paying for the two draws with Getafe and Mallorca. Xavi in any case consoles himself with what is the best attack in the league: 19 goals scored by Barcelona, against eight conceded.
A direct clash for first place
In Liga Portugal, however, Porto are only third, forced to chase both Benfica and Sporting in the lead.
Galeno celebrated by teammates
The team led by Sergio Conceiçao – on the Dragoes’ bench since 2017 – lost ground after the defeat in the Clássico against reigning champions Benfica, who got the better of them on Friday thanks to a goal from former Juventus player Di Maria. It is the second time this season that Porto have lost to their historic rivals. The red and whites had also won the Super Cup in August, in the first match of the season. Against Barcelona, Conceiçao will find striker Pepé, who was disqualified in the previous match, but at the same time he will have to do without the injured Marcano, Zaidu and Evanilson. Galeno, who was the best player on the pitch against Shakhtar Donetsk with a brace and an assist, will be in the match. At the other end, Xavi will line up Ferran Torres and Joao Felix on Lewandowski’s flanks, but faces three major absences: Raphinha, Pedri and de Jong.
The Prediction
PPlaying at the Dragao is never a walk in the park, but this still undefeated Barcelona have all the cards to at least avoid defeat. Porto’s defence looks less solid than last year: only one clean sheet so far for Conceiçao’s team. On the road, however, Barcelona have always conceded at least one goal, with the exception of the challenge against Getafe in the league opener. Both are likely to find the way of goal on at least one occasion.
The Porto-Barcelona likely line-up
- PORTO (4-2-3-1): Diogo Costa; João Mário, Fábio Cardoso, David Carmo, Wendell; Varela, Eustáquio; Galeno, Iván Jaime, Pepê; Taremi.
- BARCELONA (4-3-3): ter Stegen; João Cancelo, Araújo, Koundé, Baldé; Gavi, Romeu, Gündoğan; Ferran Torres, Lewandowski, João Félix.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-2
